RED O Cantina - Santa Monica

4.3

858 Reviews

$30 and under

Contemporary Mexican

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 31, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

Experiences are available.

Great for scenic views
Lively
Charming

What better location to enjoy award-winning cuisine and expertly crafted cocktails, than sitting directly across from the legendary Santa Monica pier? This vibrant city-meets-the-ocean destination is a local favorite. With a beautifully appointed interior and an intimate back patio, RED O Cantina is an oasis of elegance, comfort and beauty. Our culinary team and waitstaff work hand-in-hand to deliver an unforgettable dining experience to each and every one of our guests.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Seafood, Steak
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(310) 458-1600
Website
http://www.redorestaurant.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Javier Raymundo
Private party facilities
Genuine hospitality marks every function held in RED O Cantina. Our dedicated event director welcomes groups of 10 to 300 guests and will give personal attention to every detail of your event, from special entertainment requests to audiovisual needs. For more information, please contact:TanyaT@redorestaurant.com310.458-1600

Location
1541 Ocean Avenue, Suite 120, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Neighborhood
Santa Monica
Cross street
Colorado
Parking details
Valet is available in front of the restaurant for a nominal charge. Parking is also available nearby at the Santa Monica public parking structures.
Public transit
RED O Cantina is walking distance from Santa Monica Big Blue Bus stops and the Expo LRT stop at Downtown Santa Monica (at 4th/Colorado).
Entertainment
Live entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Weekend Brunch with Bottomless Cocktails
Multiple dates available
Enjoy all your favorites at our weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday. Don't miss $25 bottomless brunch cocktails including Mimosas, Bloody Mary's and Sangria. With Mexican specialties like Huevos Rancheros and Chilaquiles, to satisfying your sweet tooth with Buttermilk Pancakes, we've got something the whole family will enjoy. A la carte from 11am - 3pm.

What 858 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.1Food
4.2Service
4.2Ambience
3.8Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Westside
Kid-friendly

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

RED O Cantina - Santa Monica offers a vibrant atmosphere with "great service" and a top-notch tequila selection. Patrons enjoy diverse menu options, including gluten-free dishes. Highlights include "delicious" brunch options and a scenic patio with ocean views. Some reviews note inconsistent food quality, but the positive experiences and fun ambiance often shine through.

858 Reviews

K
Kim
VIP
Los Angeles
15 reviews
3.0
15 reviews
Dined today
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
Had made a reservation thru OpenTable for a group of 6. When we got there, on time they were not ready for us. The host made us wait about 15 minutes. My husband had to go speak with them or we might have waited longer. Once we got seated the service was okay. The staff were friendly. Overall, I was disappointed because it didn’t compare to the Red O I had been to several times in Newport Beach,
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S
Steve
Los Angeles
8 reviews
2.0
8 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 2
2. Food 4
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
We had reservations for 8:15pm but we got there a little early, at 8:00pm and I checked in with the young lady. She said, "you'll have to wait until 8:15pm to check in, please come back then. I came back in right at 8:15pm and she said we would have to wait a while until some of the tables cleared out. There were quite a few groups waiting to be seated looking frustrated. We were finally seated at 8:29pm. The food was good but they were clearly understaffed. There were vacant tables yet many people waiting to be seated. Once we were seated the food was served promptly and was good. Most items on the menu is spicy.
Is this helpful?
A
Alvaro
Los Angeles
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
The food was pretty good, but the service really missed the mark. Our waitress barely came by, and when we asked for salsa (twice!), it never showed up. Nobody refilled our water, and I ended up getting up to grab napkins from the bar because she never came back to our table. The restaurant didn’t even seem that busy, so I’d understand if there were delays, but what really got me was watching a table that sat down after us get their drinks and food almost 20 minutes before we did. It just felt like our waitress was either really slow or forgot about us. Definitely frustrating. Also, a note to the RED O staff: the upside-down water glasses on the table aren’t very clean. Using the same rag to wipe down seats and then tables is super unsanitary—it’s a quick way to make someone sick. Please change that!
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P
Preston
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on December 16, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
Service was very slow. Ordered a few drinks and had to ask several times for them throughout the duration of our dinner. This would’ve been more understood if there were more customers but the restaurant was pretty empty this evening.
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G
Greg
VIP
Los Angeles
12 reviews
4.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Everything was good and right there on Ocean. I would have liked if they said no valet or validation on their sign at the curb. Instead it said $12 w validation. When I was talking with the parking attendant, he was confused and so was I, lol. Everything else was geeat.
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S
Stephen
VIP
Los Angeles
72 reviews
5.0
72 reviews
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Had the Halibut special tonight, which was great ! Tony made the evening pleasant and was alway attentive. Always a good experience !
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J
JEFFREY
Los Angeles
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great experience. Food was excellent and the vibes was great
Is this helpful?
M
Monika
San Francisco
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, friendly service and good ambiance. We really enjoyed it!
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L
Lisa
Los Angeles
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 5
The food was marginal. The waiter was slow and inattentive even even though it was not busy. You’re paying for the location. The food was very marginal and mine was cold.
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J
Jerry
Los Angeles
7 reviews
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 22, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The Bartender made a great Espresso Martini. Service was ok, our bill was printed twice and two in our party got the other copy, bill had to be redone by our waiter.
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FAQs

RED O Cantina - Santa Monica offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (310) 458-1600.

RED O Cantina - Santa Monica is rated 4.3 stars by 858 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 31, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 30 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for RED O Cantina - Santa Monica

1541 Ocean Avenue, Suite 120, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Additional information

Cross street
Colorado
Neighborhood
Santa Monica
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–10:00 pm Fri 12:00 pm–11:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–2:00 pm Lunch Sat, Sun 2:00 pm–4:00 pm Dinner Sat 3:00 pm–11:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Contemporary Mexican, Seafood, Steak
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Valet is available in front of the restaurant for a nominal charge. Parking is also available nearby at the Santa Monica public parking structures.
Public transit
RED O Cantina is walking distance from Santa Monica Big Blue Bus stops and the Expo LRT stop at Downtown Santa Monica (at 4th/Colorado).
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Javier Raymundo
Entertainment
Live entertainment Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.redorestaurant.com/
Phone number
(310) 458-1600
Private party facilities
Genuine hospitality marks every function held in RED O Cantina. Our dedicated event director welcomes groups of 10 to 300 guests and will give personal attention to every detail of your event, from special entertainment requests to audiovisual needs. For more information, please contact:TanyaT@redorestaurant.com310.458-1600

RED O Cantina - Santa Monica

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Experiences

Weekend Brunch with Bottomless Cocktails

Menu

What 858 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does RED O Cantina - Santa Monica offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is RED O Cantina - Santa Monica restaurant rated?

Is RED O Cantina - Santa Monica currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information